Holidays dedicated to the memory of the dead are just around the corner. Many people are visiting the graveyards these days. While arranging the graves, lighting a candle is always a must. Most of the candles are placed in plastic containers.

15 million candles on the shelves
Statistics say that last year a total of 5.870.902 kilograms of graveyard candles were available on the market, which means around 15 million candles. Every Slovene takes an average of more than 12 graveyard candles to the graves every year.

When these candles burn out they become waste, which then heavily burdens the environment. If we would leave all the waste on the surface in a square shape 5x5 meters, according to estimates by the Environment Ministry, we would get a 40-meter-high pile of waste. Every year.

Only part of the waste is recycled
In Slovenia only a few companies work with used candles. Figures from the ministry for the year 2012 show that a total of 1.774.289 kilograms of disposed candles were reused. Only 640 kilograms of that were recycled.

A candle that burns forever in the virtual world
So how can we reduce the high number of waste, which accumulates only due to the mass lighting of candles beside the graves? For some years now the Environment Ministry has had a special web page www.svecamanj.si, enabling anyone to light a virtual candle and post a message for those that have passed away.

Remember those in need
The Slovenian Karitas organization has meanwhile called on everyone, in this time when families are in distress and our environment is heavily burdened, to light a smaller candle or even one candle less on November 1st and honour the dead by giving a present to those in need.